Front-Runners Emerge in Trump’s Hunt For a Running Mate
AP Photo/Jeff Dean.
Front-runners have emerged in Donald Trump’s search for a running mate, a selection the former president is set to announce next month at the Republican National Convention, according to several sources close to the candidate and his campaign.
A Trump campaign insider told Mediaite that four top contenders have emerged: Ben Carson, Senator J.D. Vance, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, and Florida Senator Marco Rubio.
Another source, a close friend of Trump, said the former president is still weighing his options, and the final choice remains fluid. They predicted Trump will choose a running mate who is content to take a backseat and avoid claiming too much of the spotlight.
“Knowing him, Trump will pick someone who is a happy warrior in the background,” the friend said. “The former president doesn’t like to compete for the stage.”
The friend said they thought Carson had the best chance of being selected for the job.
“My guess, again everyone is guessing, would be Ben Carson,” they said. “A well-qualified candidate who seems happy to keep the spotlight on Trump.”
One operative who served as a senior adviser to Trump on his 2020 campaign speculated that Rubio is best-positioned for the job. “Trump really could do anything, but he likes folks from central casting,” the operative said. “I think that works against Vance, Carson, and Burgum.”
“He likes folks who are good on TV,” they said. “That’s good for Rubio, with Vance close behind. Trump also likes the ‘it factor’ that works against Carson and Burgum.”
They added that Trump “likes successful money guys,” like Burgum, a multi-millionaire, Vance, who worked in venture capital, and Rubio, who boasts a large network of well-heeled donors.
The operative said one son of the former president will play a large role in the deliberations: Donald Trump Jr. “Can’t discount whatever Don Jr. tells Trump though,” they said, adding the scion is “close friends with Vance.”
Kevin Madden, who served as an adviser on the presidential campaigns of George W. Bush and Mitt Romney, told Mediaite he put Burgum at the top of his list for the job.
“Trump has a pretty straightforward formula for his vice-presidential pick this time around,” Madden said. “First, he’s looking to pick someone who clears the bar on readiness and experience. Second, he likely wants someone who can go on the attack against Biden and Harris. Lastly, he is likely looking for someone whose political ambitions are directed to supporting Trump, instead of using the vice-presidency to feed their own presidential ambition. This formula is what has put Doug Burgum towards the top of the list. Burgum allows Trump to ‘do no harm’, while checking the boxes of executive experience and governing capabilities at the same time.”
A list of eight candidates was previously reported as under consideration. According to NBC News, Trump’s campaign sent out “vetting materials” to those candidates, a group that includes the aforementioned contenders as well as Senator Tim Scott (R-SC), Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL), and Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY).
